Ganko ramen

[jem589]

Hey, what's your favorite Ganko ramen? I enjoyed the one in Baba, but really fell in love with Fukumen in Jinbocho. That was when Ichijo san was working there, and I have to admit that I think it's cool to have ramen from a guy that invented a whole new style.

A while ago I didn't see him there any more. Today I ate at a pretty good Ganko at the north end of Akihabara, and the master told me Ichijo took 6 months off and is now working at a place in Arakicho. It's called Fuwa-Fuwa, and I'll be there soon.

Anyway, what other Gankos do you like?

[kamiosaki]

I was at Fuwafuwa about 3 weeks ago with some co-workers. (Splitting my time 50/50 between Asia (Japan, HK, China) and NY/NJ since the earthquake.) The master was there and we all had a good chat, we talked a lot about the Japan situation. He speaks quite clearly and slowly to foreigners so it was wasn't that difficult for me to understand him. This was the first time I had actually run into him. We all had the 辛メン shoyu-miso blend, the picture of which is in last month's ラーメン新湖流. Good but the broth was a bit sweet. For a better bowl of that style I might go to Kurenai in Fuchu even though it's a bit of a haul. The place is correctly located on Google Maps (actually in Funamachi) in the red brick building but you have to look down the hall to see the bone sign, you won't see it from the street.

[Ninisix]

Yes, the chef Ijiro-San, who created the 'ganko' style 30 years ago, was at Fuwafuwa Ganko Ramen. I did not have the same ramen as at Kamioka, just a soy base asari type... The master was very nice, he explained that he would refused to serve me 'akuma ramen' (Sunday only ramen, apparently more difficult to swallow and with more troubled soup). Instead, he recommended me the shio ramen, made from 'iseebi(=spiny lobster)' soup stock on Monday... So I will go ! Am I already an adept ?!

[Notorious P.I.G.]

Nice!!! Good work!!!

[Notorious P.I.G.]

And what's the best/most interesting/most unusual bowl you've had on "Akuma Ramen" day?

[jem589]

I've only been once, and it was these awesome shrimp wontons with soup made from dried scallops.

[Notorious P.I.G.]

That looks insanely good. I have only been once and just missed Akuma Ramen day however, I heard it was something like Banana Ramen or something like that.

[jem589]

yeah, it was good. They were complaining about the quantity and expense of raw materials that went into it.
Maybe other shops do wackier things; Fukumen is the only one I'm really familiar with, but theirs are usually pretty tame (chicken-soy milk, that sorta thing).
Maybe I'll go to the founder's new place for the July day.

[Notorious P.I.G.]

Founders new place? Interesting...think he'll be there himself? He seemed to have disappeared for a bit.

[Ninisix]

Nearby the Tokyo University, in a district that I like to hang out, I have heard about some particular 'ganko ramen', but can not definite figure out what is the interesting part of ganko style ramen ? Is it the beef soup stock ? Or the pronounced salty base ? Or the femur bone hanging on the entrance (oh yuck!)? So do you know the enigma of the number 12 ?
 
 http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131...

[Notorious P.I.G.]

Well, aside from having a subtly distinct broth (Shoppai) they seem to have gained a lot of their devout followers through exclusivity, (members only shop) and mystique, (unmarked store fronts save for the bone above the entrance) of course if the Ramen was no good they wouldn't have kept their followers so it's not all just smoke and mirrors but it seems to have played a small part in it and maybe even heightened the dining experience for patrons.

Mystique and exclusivity are powerful things and can generate a lot of interest for a business. I'm just speculating here as well. I don't know if I'm the best person to pin down the enigma that is Ganko Ramen. I guess the only way would be to visit them all and then make a judgement...

[Ninisix]

Now that I have enjoyed the Ramen Kaijin, can you recommand me some Ganko ramen. Knowing that, I do not appreciate much the 'tonkotsu koteri' style of ramen...The number 12 is described as an 'asari(=light)' one...I am still as curious as I am a gourmand !

[Notorious P.I.G.]

Well, I haven't tried many Ganko Shops but I am thinking, logically you could try the shop in Nishiwaseda which was the first shop opened after the Waseda shop closed. Or you could try the Takadobashi shop which is the shop closest to the old Waseda location. After that you could branch out to other shops to try their bowls.

Or, you could try to track the master down himself and have a bowl served directly by him. That's what I would do but it could prove to be a challenge as he's elusive.